mnsss383 Ruth Mehrtens Galvin Papers, 1858-2002 Finding Aid Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College

Northampton, MA

Finding aid exported into EAD from InMagic DB/Textworks 7.01. Encoded by Margaret Jessup. 2006-12-01 Finding aid written in English. Sophia Smith CollectionSmith College Ruth Mehrtens Galvin Papers, 1858-2002 Finding Aid MS 181 2006

Collection Overview Galvin, Ruth Mehrtens, 1922-2002 Ruth Mehrtens Galvin Papers1858-2002 MS 181 24 boxes (29 linear ft.) English Sophia Smith Collection

Smith College Northampton, MA

Journalist; Editor. Papers consist of research files, notebooks, writings (published and unpublished), pocket diaries, correspondence for her Time magazine work, lectures, and memorabilia. Writings and research cover topics with an emphasis on women's issues, as well as aging, race, drugs, psychology, and sexuality. Includes material on the National Women's Conference in Houston, 1977, which Galvin covered for Time, and interviews with Gloria Steinem, Helvi Siipola and Donna Leirhoff. NOTE: There is no container list online for this finding aid. You may contact the Sophia Smith Collection if you want one sent to you. Biographical Note

Ruth Beatrice Mehrtens Galvin was born New Haven, 14 Jan 1922, daughter of Behrend and Paulin Clara (Gademann) Mehrtens. She received her A.B. from Smith College in 1942. She was a letters correspondent for Life magazine, 1945-46; then became a researcher, then contributing editor for Time magazine in 1946. From 1951 on, she was a correspondent for Time in Chicago, Canada, London, Boston, and Israel; bureau chief in Boston 1960-66; a national correspondent, 1966-74; and senior correspondent from 1974 until her retirement in 1985. She also worked as a freelance journalist; was a member of the Smith Alumnae Quarterly editorial board, 1968-71; and was a Smith College Trustee, 1987-88, and 1991-92. She married Roderick Allen McManigal, 1947; divorced; married John Thomas Galvin, 1968. Ruth Galvin died 23 Oct 2002.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Ruth Mehrtens Galvin Papers consist of research files, notebooks, writings (published and unpublished), pocket diaries, correspondence for her Time magazine work, lectures, and memorabilia. Her writings and research files cover a wide range of topics with an emphasis on women's issues, including aging, alcoholism, blacks, divorce, drugs, the Equal rights Amendment, homosexuality, Matina Horner, Masters and Johnson, Edward Kennedy, mental health/illness, pornography, psychology, rape, sexuality, Smith College, violence, and widows. There is substantial material collected from the National Women's Conference in Houston, 1977, which Galvin covered for Time. The collection also includes taped interviews of prominent women including Gloria Steinem, Helvi Siipola and Donna Leirhoff.

NOTE: There is no container list online for this finding aid. You may contact the Sophia Smith Collection if you want one sent to you.

Information on Use Terms of Access and Use

The papers are open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection with the following restriction:

Collection is stored offsite; researchers must request boxes 48 hours in advance.

Note: this collection has not been fully processed and therefore may be difficult to use.

Copyright to unpublished materials may be owned by the creator, or their heirs or assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights. Permission to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use" must also be obtained from the Sophia Smith Collection as owners of the physical property.

Preferred Citation

Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:

Ruth Mehrtens Galvin Papers, Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College, Northampton, Mass.

Search Terms Galvin, Ruth Mehrtens, 1922- National Women's Conference (1st: 1977: Houston, Tex.) Time, inc. Journalism--United States--History--20th century--Sources Journalists--United States--20th century--Biography--Sources Women journalists--United States--20th century--Biography--Sources Women editors--United States--Biography--Sources Women's rights--United States--History--20th century--Sources Additional Information